2006年VOA标准英语-European Peace Initiative Gets Mixed Response i

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
17 November 2006
 
There has been mixed reaction in Israel and the Palestinian territories to a new European peace initiative. Announcement of the plan came as leaders of rival Palestinian factions² reported progress on the formation of a national unity³ government that would weaken the powers of the ruling Islamic militant⁴ group Hamas and be more acceptable to the international community.

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  Gaza-West Bank
  
Spain, France and Italy unveiled the Mideast peace initiative, saying Europe needs to play a more active role in ending the bloodshed. They described years of fighting between Israel and the Palestinians as "intolerable."

The plan calls for an immediate⁵ cease-fire, peace talks, and an international mission in the Gaza Strip to monitor the truce⁶.

Israel flatly rejected the plan, saying the presence of international monitors would hinder its war on Palestinian terrorism. Traditionally, Israel prefers U.S. mediation⁷ and sees Europe as biased⁸ toward the Arabs. 
 

Mark Regev  
  
Israeli spokesman Mark Regev says there is already the internationally backed "Road Map" peace plan that both sides have accepted. He says what is needed is implementation⁹.

"Israel's expectation is no different from, I think, the expectation that Washington has or the rest of the international community: We expect the Palestinians to follow through on their commitment, and that is to disarm¹⁰ the different terrorist organizations," he said.

The ruling Palestinian group Hamas said the initiative contains "good points" that should be studied further, and it criticized Israel's rejection¹¹ of the plan.

 "The Israelis, they never really have an intention to have a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians," Hamas spokesman Ahmed Yousef said.

Hamas is already complying with one point of the European plan, easing its grip on power and forming a unity government with the rival and more moderate Fatah faction¹.

Palestinian negotiators say the Hamas government is expected to resign next week, clearing the way for a new cabinet made up of independent professionals.

The aim is to end crippling international sanctions imposed on Hamas because of its refusal to renounce¹² violence and recognize Israel.

Israel has given a cautious welcome to the emerging government, saying that if it strengthens the moderates, it could create an opportunity to revive the peace process.

1 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

2 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

3 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

4 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

7 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

8 biased   

a.有偏见的

参考例句：

• a school biased towards music and art 一所偏重音乐和艺术的学校
• The Methods: They employed were heavily biased in the gentry's favour. 他们采用的方法严重偏袒中上阶级。

9 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

10 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

11 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

12 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。